I am an athiest, and like many athiests, I feel that anyone can believe or freely worship anything they want, from a cross, to a rock to a banana leaf. Why is it, that the christian religious, who are supposed to be loving and accepting, feel so entitled to openly disparage and dislike anything that they don't believe in, such as athiests, wiccans, cohabitation, muslims, jews & homosexuals?
p.s., I think that the religion and spirituality category is the best one on yahoo answers since it is so politically and emotionally charged!!
2007-02-12 02:12:21 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm an athiest, but it seems to me that your perception has been influenced by your environment. You are correct, that doctrinally, Christianity is supposed to spread the simple message, love your neighbor and love God; however, all Christians are humans and thus, capable of being judgmental. Theologically, Christians should NOT be judgmental, as God is the Judge. In practice, this does not always happen, as you are well aware.
I believe that your opinion would differ greatly if you were in Saudi Arabia or Iran or Syria or any Muslim country. See how open they are to anything that doesn't glorify their "best" religion. Although Christians are frequently guilty of being judgmental and prejudice, Islam is actually non-tolerant in its own doctrine and scriptures. Here are a few examples from the Hadith and the Qur'an.
"Kill the unbelievers wherever ye shall find them" Qur'an 9:5
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends.” 5:51
“Fight those who do not believe in Allah … until they pay the Jizya (tax) with willing submission and feel themselves subdued.” 9:29
“A woman is worth one-half a man.” 2:282
“Women are feeble and are unable to devise a plan.” 4:98
“Any person who has changed his religion, kill him.” (Bukhari, vol. 9, no. 57).
So you see, whenever a Christian is judgmental, prejudice, or violent, he is doing so against the words and deeds of Christ, who sat with prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners; who said "let he who is without sin throw the first stone;" whose most violent deed was to overturn a few tables in the Temple.
As an atheist, I suspect you already know that you will find extremely fallible individuals among any group that worships an invisible man in the sky. Humanity, as a whole, is fallible, judgmentally, jealous, etc. The same can certainly be said of atheists...for instance, look at your question. You are stereotyping all Christians based on the actions of a few.
p.s. I agree with you, the religion and spirituality category is definitely the best.
2007-02-12 02:33:48 · answer #1 · answered by godofsparta 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
OK for starters i am agnostic but I am going to have to stickup for some Christians. You cannot categorize all Christians into a whole. Alot believe different things just like atheists believe differently like you cannot worship a rock as a higher entity because there is no higher being. As you will progress through life you will realize that Christianity is a early religion in terms of existence. they have had to fight their way into being and that means going against other beliefs. They had to distance themselves from the other beliefs and in so doing, created biasness towards other beliefs.
2007-02-12 02:21:58 · answer #2 · answered by funk0311 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok not all Christians dislike anyone! this is a huge stereotype and very misunderstood - us Christians say we do not believe in things such as homosexuals & so on ... this does not mean we hate them ... we are taught to pray for them!
and trust me muslims and jewish people look at other religions the same way that christians do ! so why are people always so quick to judge christians?!
and if i were to make a sterotype about athiests - i would say you are all very unhappy and rude! :)
2007-02-12 02:19:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I agree, and why also are there so many laws still on the books in the US that were made based upon religious ideas. Like not selling beer on Sunday before 12:00, when the bars can sell until 4:00 AM on Saturday night!.... Makes no sense to me...
Peace...fellow athiests!
2007-02-12 02:18:00 · answer #4 · answered by davelibby321 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The 'problem' with Christians is the same as anyone else who think s they have 'the answer'- whether it is religion, politics, car brands, or anything else.
The idea is, if you have latched onto something that is 'right', then obviously everyone else is wrong. Then, the idea becomes trying to 'help' everyone else see it from your viewpoint.
If you are willing to 'live and let live' in the given topic area, you are either indifferent to it, or are willing to let other people continue their lives in error.
2007-02-12 02:19:38 · answer #5 · answered by Madkins007 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Enlightened DO love all, etc. It is Satan in his dark mask turning people from the Light through impersonation.
Anyway, I'm an atheist myself, but I believe very deeply in the Mysteries of all that is, in a sort of Taoist fashion.
I write my own bible every day, nad conform to nothing, similar to yourself it seems.
But seriously, those who are raging lunatics are raging lunatics, trying to be Christian.
Having pity on them is all a good christian or atheist or human can do.
2007-02-12 02:17:07 · answer #6 · answered by starryeyed 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just like they are angry with the vocal minority of Atheists who complain all the time about how Fundies are repressing their rights, the Atheists are angry at the vocal minority of fundies that are interested in actually supressing their rights... just like we are all apparently made at the vocal minority of Islamic extremists that insist on hurting others.
It's a litiagous, whiney society we have here in America... everyone, fundies, normies, heathens, jews, "terrorists" all need to keep their beliefs to themselves, or share with those that show an open interest.
The bond between you and God is just that. Between the two of you. Beyond that, nothing else matters. As long as you are okay with your relationsip with the ethereal, your family and your neighbors... who cares?
Tend thine own garden.
edit: And "sharing" is different from legistlating and hating.
2007-02-12 02:28:54 · answer #7 · answered by RobotoMR 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do not dislike any of those groups I just think it is very sad that they do not know the Lord. That does not mean the Lord does not love you. I do hope you know that. The reason Christians share their faith is BECAUSE they care, after all our Bible tells us to share the gospel, the work of Jesus. If you choose to not accept that, however, we are to shake the dust from our feet and turn away, allowing the seed to be planted, but not smothered, so as you can make your own decision. Once you make that decision, we still love you we just wish you to know the love of the Lord like we do.
2007-02-12 02:20:23 · answer #8 · answered by sammyw1024 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think Christians should take a lesson from the Jews in this manner...they should stop recruiting, have higher standards to become a Christian, and worry about yourself exclusively. I think the world would be better off.
2007-02-12 02:18:12 · answer #9 · answered by Laughing Man Copycat 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i'm a christian but i don't dislike anything i don't believe in except to people who try to hurt me or hurt people i love, for that i will dislike & hate them! but most of the time i respect any religions & races cuz i believe we are all equal.
2007-02-12 02:17:54 · answer #10 · answered by ☆SpiMan☆ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋